North Dakota non-oil exports total $2 billion in 2017

North Dakota non-oil exports total $2 billion in 2017

Feb. 21, 2018

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The U.S. Commercial Service says that excluding oil, North Dakota exported more than $2 billion worth of products last year, which is a 5.6 percent increase over 2016.

The state's export growth was led by soybeans and machinery, including bulldozers, tractors, combines and farm implements.

Soybean exports increased by 120 percent between 2016 and 2017, the Bismarck Tribune reported . Data from the U.S. Census Bureau show that North Dakota exported almost $53 million worth of soybeans in 2017, compared to $24 million in 2016.

The value of machinery exports grew from almost $687 million to nearly $757 million. Canada, Australia and Ukraine increased their machinery imports from North Dakota last year.

Some exports of crops saw a decrease, including the state's wheat, corn, lentils and dry beans.

Crude oil, the state's largest "export," makes up about 58 percent of North Dakota's $5.32 billion in total exports.

"But most of this oil is simply going through a pipeline that crosses briefly into Canada and isn't actually sold into Canada," said Heather Ranck of the U.S. Commercial Service.

Natural gas exports reached $93.6 million last year, which is a significant spike from $30.7 million in 2015 and $12.6 million in 2016. Ranck said all natural gas exports went to Canada, which is the state's top export destination.

The second largest market for North Dakota's products is Mexico, which imports nearly 5 percent of the state's total exports.